BULLETIN 226. 



NOTE ON THE ACCUR/OCY OF BUSHEL WEIGHT 

 DETERMINATIONS.* 



By Clarence: W. Barbe;r. 



In tests of varieties of grain it is essential to determine the 

 weight per measured bushel of the grain produced by different 

 varieties. For this purpose there is commonly used the stand- 

 ard grain weighing device, consisting of a one or two quart 

 brass bucket suspended from a scale of the steel yard type. 

 This measuring apparatus is often referred to as the grain 

 tester. One is shown in figure 42. The beam for a two quart 

 bucket is marked with three scales or series of divisions. One 

 scale is in ounces and pounds allowing a little more than four 

 pounds as the total capacity of the bucket; the second series of 

 divisions gives the percentages of four pounds ; the third, rep- 

 resents directly the weight in pound's (up to 65) per measured 

 bushel. Because of the finer divisions the greatest accuracy in 

 weight determinations by this device is attained through using 

 the percentage scale and calculating therefrom the weight of a 

 bushel in pounds. This bucket holds one-sixteenth of a bushel ; 

 its total capacity in weight is four pounds. Hence to derive 

 the weight in pounds per measured bushel it is only necessary 

 to multiply the percent by the factor 64. 



Having frequently to use this standard bushel measure in the 

 determination of the weight per bushel of oats grown in the 

 variety tests conducted by this Station, the necessity of carry- 

 ing out a particular scheme of manipulation soon made itself 

 apparent. An inquiry made to the U. S. Bureau of Standards 

 brought the following information about the use of the grain 



* Papers from the Biological iLaboratory of the Maine Agricultural 

 Experiment 'Station No. 61. 



